SpaceX chief and US government special advisor Elon Musk has indicated that the current administration may consider removing regulations that prohibit supersonic flight over United States territory. With the resurgence of supersonic travel, altering these rules could assist emerging companies in deploying their aircraft on a broader range of routes without regulatory hurdles.
Musk responded to an X post by Boom Supersonic founder Blake Scholl, stating that Trump’s new administration plans to “get rid of all regulations that make no sense, like this one,” referencing 14CFR 91.817. This regulation stipulates that “no person may operate a civil aircraft in the United States at a true flight Mach number greater than 1.”
Boom Supersonic has developed what it calls ‘Boomless Cruise,’ a method allowing aircraft to fly at supersonic speeds without producing an audible sonic boom on the ground. The technique involves flying at altitudes where the sonic boom dissipates before reaching ground level.
Supersonic flight is currently restricted over land in the United States due to the loud sonic booms produced when breaking the sound barrier. These flights are only permitted under special circumstances with specific authorization. Concorde, historically the only commercial supersonic operator, never received such authorization for regular operations due to concerns about noise impact.
The removal of this rule could potentially expand route options for supersonic flights, including domestic routes like Los Angeles-New York or international routes such as Chicago-London.
Boom Supersonic recently achieved a milestone with its XB-1 demonstrator completing its first successful supersonic flight from Mojave Air & Space Port in California. This marked a significant achievement as it was developed independently without military or state involvement.
NASA and Lockheed Martin are also working on quieter supersonic technology with their X-59 aircraft, which aims to reduce noise impact by emitting more of a thump rather than a traditional sonic boom.
